Fire protection apparatus



Dec. 25, 1934. w, RICHTER ET AL 1,985,793

FIRE PROTECTION APPARATUS Filed May 14, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 William Elk/view gfl efiei' Hwy 1380- 1934- w. RICHTER ET AL FIRE PROTECTION APPARATUS Filed May 14, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Peier flay Patented Dec. 25, 1 934 PATENT OFFICE A FIRE PROTECTION APPARATUS wiuia nicmer,msmi,

and Peter, Fray, Tampa,

application May 14, 1932, Serial no. 611,406 Claims. (01. 169-14) Our invention relates to fire protection apparatus, and particularly to an apparatus of this character intended and adapted for installation and use'in buildings, factories, garages, storage ware- 5 houses, aeroplane hangars, and on oil tank farms,

and in other connections where a plurality'of machines or units, or large areas, are to be protected.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus that can be readily and cheaply installed and maintained, and which is so"c on-' structed that water, chemical solution, or a mix tureof the two in any desired proportion, can be H supplied to and sprayed over any particular unit Orarea.

Another object is to so construct the apparatus and the controls therefor that all parts and por tions are under complete supervisionatdall times from a central point to allow operation ofdifferent portions of the apparatus tojspray water, ehemical solution, or amixture} of the two in any desired proportion; "as for fexaniple, an extinguishing chemical solution upon a burning oil tank, and plain water upon adjacent tanks for cooling the same to minimize the danger of over-'- heating from proximity tofthe blaze to thus cause ignition or explosionof the adjacent tank, or its contents.

A further object is to provide an apparatus in which the supply of all liquidsand solution through the same distributing and sprayi g system, thus allowing most efiicient installation at a cost, and at the same time full and complete manual controlpartsare included, to

permit the user to operate the apparatusjto secure most eificient results for each particular conflagration or other conditions.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus of this character including means n preventing inoperativeness of the liquid difiusing orspra'ying system from the accumulation of memes or other foreign matter or coatings at,,the' outlets from whichthe liquid is sprayed; thus making the apparatus especially efiicient for use in cold climates. .f I

With the above and other objects in view, which will be apparent tothose skilled in theart, our invention includes certain novel features of coristruction and' combinations of parts which will r Fig. 1 is a view in planshowing one form of our apparatus as applied for use with oil tankslor the like;

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal vertical section through a housing building and surroundings showing the apparatus in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating particular adaptation of the aeroplane protection; i r l Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectionalyiew showing the operating parts of Fig. 3 in side elevation;

Fig. 5 isa fragmentary View in side elevation of'asection of conducting pipe illustrating a spray outlet; and a Fig.6 isa transverse sectional view through the disclosure in Fig. 5 substantiallyon line 6--6.

As the parts are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 adaptation of the invention to protect a plurality of oil tanks, or other containers, as for instance on a tank farm, is illustrated andwith this adaptation individual liquid spraying or diffusing installationsare made for eachparticular tank, or 20 other unit, and the operatingmechanisin and all controls are grouped at'a central power and control station. With this plant and layout "the control station is sufiiciently separated from the tanks or other units to be unafiected by a fire or other disturbance at one or severalof the units, and at the same time the plant can be set in operation and controls can be manipulated so that liquid' ca n be-sprayedupon and around any particulartank or unit for extinguishing flames, and a protective liquid, as watencan be sprayed at adjacent tanks or units to prevent ignition, explosion, scorching or other damage of the adjacent units from proximity tothe confiagration. l r 35 A powerstation'is diagrammatically illustrated at 1, and a water pump 2 suitably mounted therein is connected with a water main 3 or other suit- :able source of water supply, this pump 2 discharging to a water manifold 4 which can be extended to any "desired length for the particular installation. V l I A chemical pump 5. suitably mounted in the central station has its intake 6 connected with a chemical storage tank 7, and the outlet 8 of this chemical pumpleads to a chemical manifolde, preferably located adjacent to and substantially coextensive with the water manifold 4.

An electric motor 10, or other suitable power unit, is directly connected to drive the water 'pump 2 and has a belted connection 11 with a pulley 12 on the shaft of the chemical pump 5. A manually controlled clutch 13 is preferably provided to cut in and cut out the chemical pump 5.

parts in Fig. 1 for 5 Where" an electric motor is used as the power unit, current can be supplied from any suitable source and a switch 14, or other suitable control for the motor circuit, will be provided.

A valve is preferably provided in the chemical supply pipe 6 to control the supply of chemical from storage tank '7, and it is also perhaps desirable that a valve or other control means he provided for the water supply pipe 3, such control means for water supply pipes being old and well known and therefore not here illustrated in detail.

A plurality of liquid conducting pipes 16 are connected with the water manifold .4 to extend laterally therefrom, and these liquid conducting pipes are extended to any desired length and to terminate at the particular unit or adjacent to the particular area to be protected. In the present instance We have shown two oil tanks T, or

like containers, and the liquid spraying or diifusing system in this instance includes a ring pipe 17 and cross pipes 18, all connected to bein direct communication with the liquid conducting pipe 16. These pipes 17 and 18 have spraying openings 19 formed therethrough, one illustration being shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and shields or hoods 20 are preferablylocatedover the spray openings to protect the same against the accumulation of ice, frost, dirt, or other foreign matter that might clog the spray openinglflor otherwise interfere with the free and eflicient spraying of liquid therethrough. In the present instance, we have shownthe chemical manifold 9 located on a lower level than water manifold 4, and chemicalconducting pipes 2 1 are connected to extend laterally from this manifold 9 to connect with the main liquid conducting pipes 16 on their undersides and at points slightly spaced from the-water manifold 4. With connection and arrangement of the parts chemicals flow through the chemical supply pipes 2 l and discharge into the liquid conducting pipe 16 and will be carried along and mixed with water flowing under pressure from water manifold 4 through the conducting pipe; 16, and in consequence a solution of water and chemical will be supplied to discharge through spray openings r 1 3 95 .9-1 i x: v Cut-off and regulating valves22 are provided in each of the liquid conducting pipes 16 closely adjacent to the water manifold 4 so as to not affect the connection of the chemical supply pipes with theconductingpipes 16, and similar valves 23 are mounted in; each of the chemical supply pipes 21 to control the supply of chemical through these pipes to the conducting pipe 16,

s As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the liquid conducting pipe 16 leads toa liquid spraying device intended primarily for use in an aeroplane hangar, to be installed above each particular and individual machine berth or space, and in this adaptation the pipes 24 and 25 are disposed to extend substantially longitudinally throughout the length of the fuselage and transversely tervals along the lengths of these pipes to allow the spraying and diifusion of fire extinguishing or protecting liquids over and upon substantially all parts of the aeroplane. V

In the'use of our improved apparatus the individual tanks or protective units or areas can be numbered or otherwise designatedand the liquid conducting pipe 15 .and associated control valves will be similarly marked or designated in the central station. When a fire or other dangerous condition is noted at any particular unit or in any particular area or location, an operator can throw the switch 14 to initiate operation of the power unit and water pump 2 and clutch controlled chemical pump 5 can be operated. If water only is to be sprayed in a particular area, the pump 5 need not be operated, or the chemical supply can be cut-off throughvalve 15,01 through the individual valves 23. Where water alone 'is'to be used the valve 22 in the conducting pipe 16 leading to the affected area is opened, and the pump 2 then supply tank, and then opening the valve 23 in the chemical supply pipe 21 leading to the desired liquid conducting pipe 16. Where liquid is desired to extinguish an oil fire, chemical will probably be supplied, as indicated at the lower tank in Fig. 1, and if adjacent tanks be sufiiciently separated to' avoid the danger of overheating to ignite or explode the contents, it maynot be necessary to supply any liquid through the conducting pipe to the adjacent tank, as shown in Fig. 1; however, it will be possible to supply chemical through the liquid conducting pipe to this adjacent tank, to supply amixture of water andchemical in any desired proportions by manipulating the associated valves 22 and 23; or to supply water only for cooling purposes by opening only the valve 22 to the connected liquid conducting pipe, while leavingthe valve 23 in the associated chemical conducting pipe 21 closed. The "manipulation of the valves can of course be varied to' suit the particular installation and the particular, requirements of use; and, the arrangement of sprinkler or'spr'aying pipes can be varied from the two formsillustrated, toadapt the structure and apparatus to spray liquid over any particular size and shape of area'or over a unit or object of any particular and peculiar form.

While we have herein'shown anddescribe'd only certain specific embodiments of our invention and have illustrated and suggested only certain possible modifications, it willflbej appreciated that many changes in the form, construction, arrangement and installation of the parts'can be 'made to suit'various" conditions of'use' and operation, without departing fromthe spirit and scope of our invention.

connection from said water pump to each of said liquid conducting pipes, a control valve in each said water connection, a connection from the chemical supply to each of said liquid conducting pipes, and fiow control means in'each of said last named connections.

2. A. fire protection apparatus comprising means to store chemical solution, a plurality of liquid conducting pipes, spray, means associated with said conducting pipes, a source of water supiii ply! a Water pp y connection-to each of Said conducting pipes, connections from said chemical storage means to each of the conducting pipes beyond the Water supply connections, individually ,operable valves located in each of the water supply connections and each of the chemical connections to each of said liquid conducting pipes; and means to place the water and chemical solution as supplied under pressure;

3. A fire protection apparatus comprising means to store chemical solution, a plurality of liquid conducting pipes,a source of water supply, liquid distributing means associated with said conducting pipes, a water supply connection from said source to each of said conducting pipes, connections from said chemical storage means to each of the conducting pipes beyond the water supply connection therewith, and means to control the supply of chemical and water through each of said connections.

4. A fire protection apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid conducting pipes leading from a central location and terminating with their discharges at spaced points; liquid distributing means at said discharge ends, a water supply manifold at the central location, a source of water supply connected with said water manifold, a chemical supply manifold also at the central location, a source of chemical supply connected with said chemical supply manifold, connections from said water manifold to each of said liquid conducting pipes, connections from said chemical supply manifold to each of the conducting pipes at points beyond the water connections, and individually controllable valves in each of said water and chemical supply connections adjacent to the manifolds.

5. A fire protection apparatus comprising a plurality of liquid conducting pipes leading from a central location and terminating with their discharges at spaced points, liquid distributing means at said discharge ends, a water supply manifold at the central location, a source of water supply connected with said water manifold, a chemical supply manifold also at the central location, a source of chemical supply connected with the chemical supply manifold, connections from said water manifold to each of said liquid conducting pipes, connections from said chemical supply manifold to each of the conducting pipes at points beyond the water connections, individually controllable valves in each of said water and chemical supply connections adjacent to the manifolds, means to supply water to said water manifold under pressure, and controllable means to supply chemical to said chemical manifold under pressure.

WILLIAM RICHTER. PETER FRAY. 

